History was made today as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Peruvian-American prelate originally from Chicago, was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first pontiff born in the United States and the first from North America.
The announcement came on May 8, 2025, as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the conclusion of the papal conclave. At 69 years old, Pope Leo XIV succeeds his predecessor amid growing calls for reform, inclusion, and stronger global outreach from the Catholic faithful.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost has had a distinguished ecclesiastical career that spanned continents. He most recently served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, roles he took on in 2023.
Before his leadership in Rome, he served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023 and as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. In 2015, he became a naturalized citizen of Peru, a testament to his deep-rooted ministry in Latin America.
Pope Leo XIV’s election marks a historic moment not only for American Catholics but for the broader global Church. His dual American and Latin American identity bridges two major Catholic regions and could signal a papacy that prioritizes cultural dialogue, episcopal reform, and revitalization of the Church in a rapidly changing world.
The Vatican is expected to release further details about his vision and priorities in the coming days.
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